16 February 2008—14 March 2008

The Contemporary Art Society is pleased to present Searchlight #1 by Tim Knowles at the Economist Plaza, after sunset daily.

Chance plays a crucial part in Tim Knowles work, which is generated by apparatus, mechanisms or systems, the output of which is beyond the artist’s control. Much of the work seeks to reveal the hidden motion of objects, be they the full moon’s reflection on undulating water, a parcel travelling through the postal system or the intricate movement of 100 weeping willow branches in the wind. Knowles work explores ways of drawing be it with ink, light or other forms.

Light & movement are at the core of Knowles’ work for the Economist Plaza. Searchlight #1 allows the audience to both generate and become the work. As individuals move within the Plaza they are followed by a moving spotlight. They may simply continue on their way as normal, try to escape the circle of light, freeze, or choose to perform in some way.

The piece follows on from Field of Play, a permanent public commission in Millennium Square, Bristol (2006). Comprised of over 10,000 full colour LEDs covering the side of a building, the piece uses CCTV surveillance and video processing technology to create a live interactive light drawing. The public appear as a path of light across the facade as they move around the square, leaving behind them a slowly diminishing vapour trail.

Searchlight #1 encourages people to perform in the spotlight and brings life, mischief & playfulness into the urban space, but also highlights the increasing prevalence of CCTV and surveillance technologies within our society. Searchlight #1 is accompanied by a series of photographic works of illuminated walks.

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